Portable traffic control light



July 15, 195 F. s. MARTIN PORTABLE TRAFFIC CONTROL LIGHT 2 SHEETSSI-1EET 1 Filed Dec. 20, 1948 QEG Q? 5 I 5 150 6. MAW/v by %gs.

July 15, 1952 F. s. MARTIN 2,603,700

PORTABLE TRAFFIC CONTROL LIGHT Filed Dec. 20, 1948 2 Sl-IEETSSl-lEET 2 EMKQIQ .Iivran far 5550 d? M/en/v Patented July 15, 1952 roarABLn'rizAFFIo con'rrtoii LIGHT Fred s: Martin, Chicago; In. ApplicationrDecember 20, 1948, Serial No. 66,332

The present invention relates to a portable traffic control light and more particularly. to a. traffic control light adaptedfor mountingbn auto.- motive. vehicles, such as automobiles, buses, trucks, motorcycles and the like.

Traflic control. lights as generally employed are fixedly secured to posts or other. supporting means. Various types otdirectionalindicating devices have been proposed for use with. auto.- mobile. vehicles as well as the familiar brake ac.- tuated automotive stop light.

However, such automotive traflic control are so commonplace andso inconspicuous with 'rel'ationto. the automobile carryingthe same that thesehghts are often ignored or.. overlooked ..in 4 operation. The conventional intersection-light, on theother hand, i's'conspicuously-displayed and is generally recognized bythe'motoring public. A type ofportable traflic control light similar in design .and operation-t the conventional ,lntersection lights would be desirable as aconspicuous, instantly recognized, traflic control light; for school buses, trucks, and the like. A lso such a portable traiiic control light could be employedby law enforcement otficersat intersections at which the normal traflic does not warrant the expense of.installing and maintaining-a permanent traffic-cotrol lightbut which, at rush hours, accommodatesa large volume of traihc.

The present invention now provides an improved portable traflic control light in which an intersectional .type trafiic light may be mounted directly upon the body of. an automotive vehicle. The light of the present invention comprises generally a pair of relatively movable members, one of the members being securedto the body of the automotive vehicleto serveas a base member and the second member being carried by-this base member for movement relative thereto. The second member carries a traflic. control light which can be elevatedor otherwise exposed to view beyond the confines of the bodyof the vehicle; Means are provided for facilitating, relative-movement of the twomembers and also for lecuring the two members in. adjustedrelation to expose the lightto'view.

In one preferred embodiment, the; portable traflic control light compisesapair. of telescop in'g members; oneof 'whicli'is adapted'tob'e seto" the-body 'offan automotive 'vehicle. If

v e'" in'ay lie contained entirely within the V ic e S ars alli 9 t u I some isthe case an aperture .isgprovi'ddf in the my i -aa mgra t esa vii ai s Pr in' '1 exams. (c1. rn-sza) e device, when in'telesc'opednon operaemembers and the traific light itself. A contoured plate carried by the device may be provided to close the aperture in the automotive body upon movement ofthe light to either its exposed'or concealed position.

In a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the relatively movable members carrying the traffic controllightare hinged togather for movement and means are provided for maintaining the members in adjusted aligned relation with the tr'afli'c light projecting beyond .the bodilyfloutlines .of the vehicleto which it is attached. embodiment; the base member may be secured to the bodyof '.the vehicle in.a position outside of the vehicular body itself, as, for example, to the vehicle bumper, Uponhinged movement of the second member. relative to .the base member, the light is reta'ined'b'y suitable means against the vehicular. body to allowready transportationof the assembly as a whole.

It is, therefore, an important object ofrthe present invention to provide an improved form of portable automobile control light for mounting upon an automotive vehicle.

It is another important object of the present invention to provide an improved portable traffic control light for automotive vehicles in. which a, pair of relatively movable members, one of which is securedto the vehicular body, are employed to retain a traflic control light in position upon the vehicle body, the members being adapted for movement to an inoperative posi tion of, relatively small overall length so that the device may be concealed or rendered.inconspicuous, and to a second extended position at which thelight is exposed to the view of trafiic for controlling the same.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a portable trafiic control light for automotivevehieles inwhich a. pair of telescoping members, one of which is secu'redtothe bod of the vehicle, are employed for carrying a -trafiic control light andin which means. are. providedI- for maintaining the members in ,adiusted telescopic relation. either to' expose the light to the view of trafiic or to shorten the overall len th of saidm embers toconceal the.lights or render theminconspicuous. n stillgiurther. important object of. the present invention to provide a portable. traflic. control light for automotive vehicle's finwhich a pair .of hinged-members, one. of which is secured to the body of the -vehicle, are. employedforcarrying .a -traflic .contr ollight, and, in which means. are providedIfor maintaining. the. hinge. members in abutting relation to expose the light to the view of trafiic and further means are provided for retaining the trafiic control light against the body of the vehicle when the hinged members are moved from their abutting relation.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawi g I. E; J I

On the-drawings:'-

Figure 1 is a rear, elevational view of a bus scription the present invention provides a portable showing a portable traffic control light of the. present invention in extended operative position.

Figure 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view, with parts shown in elevation, taken along the plane IIH oi Figure 1 showing the light retracted position.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing means for retaining the trafilc light in extended operative position. s

Figure 4 is a' rear,.elevational view of abus showing a modified form of portable trafl'ic control light of thefpresent invention in extended operative position.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the light in'hinged, inoperative position."

Figurefi is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane VIVlI or Figure 4.

shown on thedrawings: I

In Figures 1 and 2, reference numeral"!!! -refers generally to a bus or'the like automotive'vehicle having a body ll formed of sheet metal, wood ;or the like material with the roof or upper por- "tion of the body being apertured as at i2 to accommodate a traflic -control light of the'present invention as hereinafter more fully described. As best shown in Figure 2, a, base member l3 in the form of a cylindrical sleeve 14 is provided with an enlarged lower terminal section 15 secured to floor member I6 of the interior. of the body H by suitable means, as bybolts IT. The

upper extremity of sleeve I4 is slotted as at i8 and a collar (9 having apertured outturn'ed ears encircles the upper slotted portion of the sleeve. Suitable means, such as" bolts 2| and .nuts 22, extend through the registeringapertures 2U urging the collar I 9 in tight gripping engagement withthe slotted portion of the sleeve. The upper terminal portion of sleeve I4 is provided with a pair. of diametrically opposed downwardly'extending recesses 23 as best shown in Figure 3.

.An elongated movable member 24, preferably in the form of a pipe section or cylindrical rod, is slidably received by sleeve Min telescoping relation therewith. Telescoping member 24 is diametrically apertured as at 25, the apertures 25 registering with recesses 23 as shown in Figure 3 to receive pin 26 so that member 24 may be maintained in elevated position as shown in Figure 1'.

Member 24 carries at its upper end a traific signal light 21 comprising a closed casing 28 having a plurality of light sources (not shown) mounted therein and a plurality of colored lenses 29 for each of the light sources as is well known in the art. The upper extremity of casing 28 carries a curved closure plate 30 contoured to the outline of the roof of body ii and adapted to close the aperture i2 on telescoping of'the" porting means, such as rods 3I secured to casing trailic control light which-is entirely-concealed within the body of an automotive vehicle when not in use and which may be extended into operative position by mere telescoping movement of a single member within a sleeve. Positive means are provided for retaining the light in elevated operative position and further means are provided-for closing the aperture through which the device extends so as to prevent exposure of the interior of the vehicle to the elements. 7

It will be appreciated bythose skilled in the art that the signal light of the present invention neednot be mounted within the body of the automotive vehicle, but may be mounted upon a bumper, fender or other outer portion of the vehicle body in exposed position. Similarly, where space permits, the two-part light structure may be hinged to provide for movement of the upper light-carrying part into its operating position or'into an inoperative, less conspicuous position.

Such a hinged construction is shown in Figures 4-6 of the drawings in which reference numeral l0 refers generally to a bus as hereinbefore' defined. In this modified form of the invention,

'a base member 40- is secured to a bumper 4| of of strap 45. The base member 40 is provided with'an upper-flange 46 carrying a depending portion 41 receiving a toggle bolt 48*pivoted :hout a pin 49 carried by the flange portion The second member 50 carriesa trafific signal light 5! at its upper end, the signal light 5| being similar to the light 21 hereinbefore described. The member 50 carries at its lower end a flange 52 of corresponding contour to the flange 46, the flange 52 having a bifurcated portion 53 (Figure 6) adapted to overlie the portion 41 of the flange 46. This bifurcated section 41 receives the toggle bolt 48 and a wing nut 54 is adapted to overlie the bifurcated section 53 to bear thereagainst maintaining the flanges 46 and 52 in abutment. The flanges 41 and 52 are hinged for rela- "tive movement about a pin 55 as best shown in Figure 6. The flange 46 is provided with a. centrally formed ear .56 projecting outwardly from the flange and the flange 52 is provided with a pair of spaced parallel ears 5'! adapted to lie on either side of the ear 56. The ears 56 and 51 are each provided with registering apertures to receive a pivot pin 55, the pin being retained in position by means of a belt or a nut 550;.

The members 40 and 50 are thus hinged together by means of the pin 55 for-relative hinged movement froni the position shown in Figure to theposition ofjFig ure 5; Thellig ht 5.li may be securedin position against the body of the vehicle 28 and plate 30. A second closure plate 32 of substantially the same size and contour of the 10 by-mea'ns of a cupped'retaining member 61 secured to the body position to receive the member 5|. A strap 58 is provided to retain the light 5! within its folded position against member 61, as shown in Figure 5, thus maintaining the light against movement.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be carried through a wide range without departing from the principles of thisinvention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. Aportable traific control light for automotive vehicles comprising a pair of vertically extending telescoping members, one of said members being adapted to be secured to the body of said vehicle, means maintaining said members in adjusted telescopic relation to project upwardly of said vehicular body and a traific control light carried by the other of said members for movement therewith, whereby said trafiic control light may be extended upwardly beyond the body outlines of said vehicle upon movement of said other member and maintained in said extended position by said means.

2. A portable trafiic control light for automotive vehicles comprising a pair of telescoping members, one of which is adapted to be secured to the body of said vehicle and the other of which is adapted for telescoping movement relative to the other of said members, each of said members having registering apertures formed therein adjacent the corresponding ends, means for extending through said registering apertures to maintain said members in adjusted telescopic relation, and a. trailic control light carried by said other of said members, whereby said trafiic light may be adjusted into position to extend beyond the bodily confines of said vehicle upon movement of said other member.

3. A portable trafl'ic control light for automotive vehicles comprising a sleeve adapted to be secured to a body member of said vehicle, a movable member extending into said sleeve and adapted for telescoping movement therein, said sleeve having slots formed therein adjacent to that terminal portion receiving said member and said member having apertures formed therein for registry with said slots, means for insertion into said registering slots and apertures to maintain said member in adjusted telescopic position, and a traific control light carried by said movable member and extending beyond said sleeve for movement therewith, whereby said traffic light will be visible beyond the bodily confines of said vehicle upon movement of said member to its adjusted position secured by said means.

4. A portable traflic control light for automotive vehicles having a body portion formed with an aperture therein. and comprising a pair of telescoping members, one of which is adapted to be secured to the body of -said vehicles and the other of which is adapted for relative telescoping movement with respect to said one member, means for maintaining said members in adjusted telescopic relation, 9. traffic control light carried by said other member and adapted to extend through said aperture upon movement or said other member, and a pair of spaced closure plates carried by said other member, one of said plates closing said aperture in which said light is confined within said body and the other of said plates closing said aperture when said light extends beyond said body.

5. A portable traflic control light for automotive vehicles having a closed body portion having an aperture formed therein comprising a sleeve secured to said body, a. movable member extending into said sleeve and adapted for telescoping movement therein, means for maintaining said member in adjusted telescopic relation, and a traffic control light carried by said movable member, said sleeve, said member and said light be n confined within said body which said member is telescoped within said sleeve and extending beyond the confines of said body when said memher is moved to its adjusted telescopic position and secured by said means, a, closure plate carried by said light for closing said body aperture when said light is confined within said body, and a second closure plate carried by said member for closing said aperture upon movement of said member to its adjusted position. I

6. In a. portable traflic control signal, a vehicle body, a base member secured to said body, a directional traific control lamp, 2. support member carrying said directional lamp, means connecting said support member to said-base member for movement of said support member between a, re tracted and an extended position, directional lamp carried by saidsupport member to extend above the vertical profile 01' said vehicle body when'moved from said retracted position, means fixedly orienting said directionallamp in said extended position to cast a light in .a fixed direction relative to said vehicle body, and clamping means for locking said directional light in said extended and oriented position.

7. In a portable traflic control S gnal for a. vehicle, a base member for securement to the vehicle, a directional traflic control lamp, a support member carrying said directional lamp,

means connecting said support member to said base member for movement of the support member between a retracted and an extended position, means fixedly orienting said directional lam in said extended position to cast a light in a fixed direction relative to said base member, and clamping means for locking said directional lamp in said extended and oriented position.

FRED S. MARTIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,303,147 Archibald et al. May 6, 1919 1,951,431 Meehan Mar. 20, 1934 2,017,499 Kraus Sept. 17, 1934 2,082,905 Riggs June 8, 1937 2,094,514 Zika et a1. Sept. 28, 1937 2,167,564 Fonda July 25, 1939 2,199,990 Godfrey et al. May 7, 1940 2,237,536 Wells, Jr. Apr. 8, 1941 

